Globe had very warm October; year is 7th-warmest so far

Nov. 18, 2013
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Areas in pink and red had warmer-than-average temperatures in October, while areas in blue had cooler-than-average temperatures. Alaska (in deep red) had its warmest October on record. The scale is in degrees Celsius. / NOAA/NCDC

by Doyle Rice, USA TODAY

by Doyle Rice, USA TODAY

The globe had its seventh-warmest October on record, according to data released today by the National Climatic Data Center. Records go back to 1880.

The global temperature in October was 1.13 degrees F above the average of 57.1 degrees F.

It also marked the 344th consecutive month (more than 28 years) that the Earth had an above-average global temperature.

Most areas of the world's land surface experienced warmer-than-average monthly temperatures, with the most notable warmth across Alaska, northwestern Canada, northwestern Africa, and parts of north central and southern Asia, the climate center reported.

For the year-to-date, the global temperature was the seventh-warmest such period on record, with a combined global land and ocean average surface temperature that was 1.08 degrees F above the average of 57.4 degrees F.

All the warmest years on record have occurred since 1998, with the warmest January-October period in 2010. Australia is having its warmest year on record, so far.

Other global weather and climate highlights in October:

â?¢ Alaska had its warmest October since records began in 1918.

â?¢ Spain had its sixth-warmest October on record.

â?¢ Cyclone Phailin hit India on Oct. 12, and was the second-most intense cyclone to cross India since records began.

â?¢ Antarctic sea ice extent had its largest October extent since records began in 1979.

â?¢ Precipitation across Japan was above average, with some locations receiving nearly twice the average amount.